Don’t look now but the Carolina Panthers are on the clock with the first overall pick for the 2023 NFL Draft! In a somewhat shocking turn of events, the Carolina Panthers move up from 9th overall to 1st overall and all signs point to them selecting a quarterback.
Before we get into the quarterback options for the Panthers, let’s take a look at the details of the massive trade that will play a major factor in how the first round will shake out in April.
Bears acquire WR DJ Moore, 2023 No. 9 overall pick, 2023 second-round pick, 2024 first-round pick and a 2025 second-round pick in trade with Panthers. (via @rapsheet) pic.twitter.com/JAkVa0sWhD
— NFL (@NFL) March 10, 2023
The Chicago Bears get a massive haul as they’re able to acquire plenty of draft capital but one of the most impressive pieces of the trade is that they were able to acquire a number one receiver for quarterback Justin Fields. By adding wide receiver D.J. Moore, the Bears add a talented receiver that has 364 receptions for 5201 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns in his five-year career.
Meanwhile, the Bears will move down to the 9th overall pick and they could very well land Georgia IDL Jalen Carter. It’ll be interesting to see if he falls that far down the draft board after his misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and street racing. His arraignment hearing has been set for April 18th, 2023 so we’ll see how teams handle his off-the-field situation.
One of the easiest evaluations you'll have for the 2023 NFL Draft is Georgia IDL Jalen Carter. He's one of the best players in the draft, if not, the best player in the draft.
Dominant due to his length, power, athleticism and versatility, he can be an impact player from day… https://t.co/6XvAIbyzsR pic.twitter.com/oGJSeLscpP
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) February 27, 2023
If the Bears don’t look at Jalen Carter because he’s off the board already or they just go a different route, don’t be surprised if they value Clemson edge rusher Myles Murphy or Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson. Murphy is one of the 5 or 6 best players in the draft and could provide an immediate impact off the edge for the Bears due to his blend of speed and power. As for Paris Johnson, he would provide protection to Justin Fields. They’re former teammates at Ohio State and I could see the Bears valuing the versatility and athleticism that Johnson puts on display.
As the Panthers make a massive jump up the draft board for a quarterback, the question now becomes, which quarterback do they end up taking? Personally, it looks like they’re sold on what they saw at the Scouting Combine from Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson and from Ohio State quarterback CJ Stroud.
Ohio State QB CJ Stroud reads left before throwing to the MOF and just over the ref for the big first down. Also, really nice job by WR 2 Emeka Egbuka running this route at a different speed while planting off his outside foot and exploding to the MOF. pic.twitter.com/DuBE9bKmA1
— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) January 18, 2023
At the Scouting Combine, Richardson lit the world on fire with his 6’4″ and 244 pound frame while being able to run the 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds and he posted a 40.5″ vertical jump. Meanwhile, he put his arm strength on display during the throwing sessions. As for Stroud, he had one of the most impressive throwing sessions in recent memory. Most of his throws were flawless with his throwing motion, footwork and he put some serious velocity on the ball with just a simple flick of his wrist.
Lions impact
Now what does this mean for the Detroit Lions? Quite frankly, it means a lot for them. We should certainly see at least three quarterbacks selected in the top 4 picks of the 2023 NFL Draft, and that will push talented players down the board. The three big names that the Lions could target are:
- Will Anderson, EDGE, Alabama
- Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
- Jalen Carter, IDL, Georgia
All of this will depend on what happens with the Arizona Cardinals at the 3rd overall pick and the Seattle Seahawks at the 5th overall pick but it seems like the Lions are destined to select one of the three players listed above. Any of the three could provide an immediate impact on the Lions defensive front and it would provide a terrific pairing with Aidan Hutchinson for years to come in Detroit.
If the Lions decide to pivot, we could very well see Oregon cornerback Christian Gonzalez with the 6th overall pick. Later next week, I’ll provide a breakdown on Christian Gonzalez but he’d be a great fit for the Lions defense that desperately needs help within their secondary.
All in all, it’s a great trade for the Bears. They get draft capital and a true number one receiver in their offense. The Panthers will need to make sure that whatever quarterback they select, they’ve got to ensure it’s the right guy for the job. While we wait to see how the future unfolds, we do know that on the surface, this trade will have major implications on the Detroit Lions and the rest of the NFC North.
